Aims/hypothesis. Diabetic nephropathy seems to have a strong genetic compon
ent. Genes involved in the genetic susceptibility to Type I (insulin-depend
ent) diabetes have been suggested to have a role in the development of diab
etic nephropathy. This study aimed to examine the role of human leucocyte a
ntigen and insulin genes in susceptibility to nephropathy in patients with
Type I diabetes.
Methods. We carried out a genetic association study examining insulin gene
polymorphisms using three large cohorts of patients with Type I diabetes: n
ephropathy (n = 258), long duration non-nephropathy (n = 153) and a recentl
y diagnosed (sporadic) diabetic cohort (n = 264). Human leucocyte antigen t
yping results were obtained in a smaller number due to assay failures (n =
182, 126 and 200 respectively).
Results. No significant difference was seen in the distribution of human le
ucocyte antigen A, B, C, DR, DQA1 and DQB1 haplotypes and alleles between t
he three diabetic cohorts. No significant difference was seen in insulin '
+ ' and '-' genotypes and alleles between the three diabetic cohorts.
Conclusion/interpretation. Human leucocyte antigen and insulin gene loci ar
e unlikely to have a major role in the susceptibility to nephropathy in Cau
casian patients with Type I diabetes in the United Kingdom.